Temperatures soar in north India, rains lash south

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) This Holi get all the water colours out as the day could be very warm. Unlike in the past few years, Delhiites need not wait until later morning to douse one another in buckets of coloured water. Should the current trend continue, Saturday could well be quite warm. As over the past few day, the day and night temperatures in the national capital continued their upward movement, Wednesday’s high touching 37 degrees Celsius.

Though Delhiites still enjoy pleasant mornings and cool nights, sudden rise in the maximum temperature has signalled the coming of a strong summer this time.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 19.5 degrees Celsius, four degrees above the normal.

Most parts of the northern plains also saw temperatures being 4-6 degrees above normal. The Met Office said that the current temperature trends are likely to continue for the next two-three days from Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Orissa Wednesday rescheduled the working hours of labourers and daily wage earners following the possibility of a heat wave due to the rise in temperature in some places over the past few days.

Many parts of the state have been witnessing over 38 degrees Celsius temperature the past few days. Sundergarh town in western Orissa has already recorded close to 40 degrees Celsius temperature Monday and Tuesday, an official of the state labour department told IANS.

Looking at the trend, we have issued instructions to all private and government concerns not to engage daily wage earners and labourers for work between 11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. with immediate effect. The order will be in force from March to June, he said.

While the north is bracing for heat, it has already started raining in the south. Parts of southern Tamil Nadu and Kerala witnessed fairly heavy showers. The weatherman has forecast more rain for the region in the coming couple of days.

Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh also saw rainy weather. More showers are expected in parts of these states in the coming days.

The following were the maximum and minimum temperatures and rainfall in major cities for the 24 hours till Wednesday morning, with figures in brackets denoting deviations from the average.